Cool Down Your Summer Landscape with Blue

Looking for a cool, calm landscape? If so, blue is for you.

This is the color that is visually relaxing when carefully placed among other landscape plantings.

Blue is one of the most rare flower colors. In fact, some gardeners argue that there is no “true blue” flowering landscape plant. That might be true but regardless, there are some that are mighty close.

Following are some plant species that produce blue, or almost blue flowers to help in your search. Blue Daze is a tender perennial that flowers throughout the warm season. It requires exposure to full sunlight, is tolerant of a wide range of soil types and even shows some salt spray tolerance. This is a low, spreading plant that rarely grows to more than two feet in height.

Coneflower comes in several colors, but there are purplish-blue varieties. It also requires full sunlight and well drained soil, but is drought tolerant once well established.

Dayflower, also known as spiderwort, is a Florida native. It is so well adapted that many local residents consider it a weed in lawns. There is both a blue and white selection. It grows in sun or partial shade and is tolerant of a wide range of soil types.

Plumbago comes in blue and white, but the blue is one of the most striking shades found in the landscape. This is a sprawling, tropical perennial shrub. It starts off slowly but once warm, moist weather arrives in early summer it makes rapid growth and flowers throughout the summer.

Stokes Aster also comes in blue and white varieties. It requires full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil. Establishment is from seeds, divisions or container grown plants.

Vinca, or periwinkle, is available in several colors including a blue, or almost blue. This shade is so unique that it is now known by the general public as “periwinkle.” Vinca is often used as a ground cover or in mass plantings. It begins flowering in March and continues through July.

Blue ginger, though not a true ginger, is a beautiful plant that flowers in late summer and early fall. Plant it in full sun or partial shade.

Though most iris species and varieties perform poorly along the Gulf Coast, the Louisiana iris is well adapted. Among the many selections there are several blue varieties. This is a great plant, especially for aquascaping and for use in other moist areas of the landscape.

Other blue flowered plants include blue sage, blue-eyed grass, Mexican heather, Pincushion flower, Ruellia, Russian sage, blue salvia, larkspur and Veronica.

So, the search for blue-flowered plants is not as difficult as it might seem, especially if the color is not limited to a preconceived “true blue” shade. Visit local garden centers and nurseries and a surprising number of blue flowering plants can be found.

Question of the Week: One area in my lawn is covered with a slick, green film. When the surface dries it turns black. What could this be?

Answer: Several species of algae can cause this condition. They grow in areas of a lawn that remains moist at the surface for extended periods. Consider reducing the frequency of irrigation in this area.